What is the Food Stamp Program?

The Food Stamp Program provides monthly benefits that help eligible low-income households buy the food they need for good health. For most households, food stamps account for only a portion of their food budgets; they must also use their own funds to buy enough food to last throughout the month.

This program was established by Congress in 1964 by PL 88-55 which was superseded by the Food Stamp Act of 1977 and subsequent amendments to the Act. It is administered at the federal level by the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Food and Nutrition Service and at the state level by the Department of Social Services - Office of Family Support. Besides certification and issuance activities, the Food Security Act of 1985 mandated that employment and training services be provided for food stamp recipients who are mandatory work registrants. The employment and training activities, known as the Louisiana Job Employment Training (LaJET) Program, are accomplished through the cooperative efforts of the Food Stamp Program, the OFS Family Assistance parish offices, (in parishes where available) local governing authorities in the State and the Louisiana Workforce Commission. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996, which was signed into law on August 22, 1996, implemented many changes in the Food Stamp program, including a limit on the number of months certain persons can receive food stamp benefits without working.

Eligible households can receive food assistance through the regular Food Stamp Program or through the Louisiana Combined Application Project (LaCAP).

REGULAR FOOD STAMP PROGRAM

Do I Qualify for Food Stamps through the regular food stamp program?

To get food stamps through the regular Food Stamp Program, households must meet certain tests, including resource and income tests.

Resources:

Households may have $2,000 in resources, such as a bank account. Households may have $3,000 if at least one household member is age 60 or older or includes a disabled member. Certain resources are not counted, such as a house, vehicles and the resources of people who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or households which include someone who receives Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP), Kinship Care Subsidy Program (KCSP) or Strategies to Empower People Program (STEP) benefits.

Income:

Households have to meet income tests unless any member is receiving FITAP, KCSP, STEP benefits, or all members are receiving SSI. Most households must meet both the gross and net income tests, but a household with a person who is 60 years old or older or a person who is receiving certain types of disability payments only has to meet the net income test. Households, except those noted, that have income over the amounts listed below cannot get food stamps.

HouseholdSize

Maximum GrossMonthlyEligibility Standard

Maximum Net MonthlyIncomeEligibility Standard

1

$ 1,127

$867

2

1,517

1,167

3

1,907

1,467

4

2,297

1,767

5

2,687

2,067

6

3,077

2,367

7

3,467

2,667

8

3,857

2,967

EachAdditionalMember

+390

+300

Gross income means a household's total, non excluded income, before any deductions have been made. Net income means gross income minus allowable deductions.

Other eligibility requirements for the regular Food Stamp Program are:

Residence - the client must be living in Louisiana.

Citizenship - all household members must be U.S. citizens. Only certain aliens are eligible.

Enumeration - households must provide or apply for Social Security numbers for each member before certification.

Work Registration - all able-bodied adults, with specific exceptions, must register for work and accept suitable employment.

How and Where Do I Apply for the regular food stamp program?

The application can be made at any OFS Family Assistance parish office. Households composed entirely of people who are applying for or receiving SSI may apply for food stamps through the regular Food Stamp Program at the Social Security Administration office unless they already have a food stamp application pending.

Downloadable form: The following standard form can be downloaded to a disk and then completed on the user's PC. To download a form, simply click on the desired title below, then follow the prompts given by your browser. (On most browsers, you will need to choose the "Save to Disk" option, and then choose the drive and directory you wish to save to.)

This form has been provided as a public service and has been successfully processed on a State computer system. However, we unfortunately cannot guarantee success for all users, due to the wide variety of browsers/platform in use. It is still the responsibility of the user to use this form appropriately and in a manner consistent within these limitations. No actual text of this form may be changed, and doing so may render it null and void. All relevant deadlines still apply.

How Much Will I Receive in the regular Food Stamp Program?

The amount of food stamp benefits that a household is eligible to receive through the regular Food Stamp Program is based on the Thrifty Food Plan amounts that are established by the USDA-Food and Nutrition Service (refer to chart for these Thrifty Food Plan amounts). They are current estimates of the actual costs for providing a household with nutritious but inexpensive meals. These are the maximum amounts that a household with zero net monthly income can receive in food stamp benefits each month. If a household meets all eligibility requirements, the amount of their food stamp benefits is dependent on both the number of persons in the household and the net monthly income amount remaining after all allowable deductions have been subtracted.

Income deductions allowed in the regular food stamp budget are subtracted from both earned and unearned income. The deductions are:

Earned Income Deduction - 20% of gross earnings

Standard Deduction - $144 for 1 to 3 household members;$147 for 4 household members; $172 for 5 household members and $197 for 6 or more household members.

Medical Deduction - allowable medical expenses incurred by elderly or disabled household members in excess of $35 per household

Dependent Care Deduction - payments for the care of a child or other dependent which are necessary for a household member to work.

Shelter Deduction - allowable shelter costs (rent or mortgage, property taxes, insurance on the structure and utility expenses) in excess of 50% of household income remaining after all other deductions. For households with an elderly or disabled member, there is no limit on the shelter deduction; for all other households the shelter deduction cannot exceed $446.

Income Limits and Benefit Amounts for the regular Food Stamp Program

No of Persons

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

FS MaximumGross MonthlyIncome 130% ofFederalPoverty Level

1127

1517

1907

2297

2687

3077

3467

3857

4247

4637

FS MaximumNet MonthlyIncome 100% ofFederal Poverty Level

867

1167

1467

1767

2067

2367

2667

2967

3267

3567

FS ThriftyFood PlanAmounts - ForZero NetIncome

176

323

463

588

698

838

926

1058

1190

1322

LOUISIANA COMBINED APPLICATION PROJECT (LaCAP)

What is LaCAP?

LaCAP is a food assistance program for Louisiana residents who are at least 60 years of age and receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI). It is a simplified version of the Food Stamp Program. If you are eligible for LaCAP, you will receive a Louisiana Purchase Card and Food Stamp benefits will be automatically deposited into your account every month. There are four standard allotment amounts in LaCAP. Depending on shelter costs, LaCAP participants will receive $44, $54, $94 or $132. LaCAP cases are certified for 36 months.

Who is eligible?

You may be eligible for LaCAP if you are receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and you:

Are age 60 or older,

Are not institutionalized or otherwise ineligible for Food Stamps due to immigration status, an Intentional Program Violation, or drug conviction,

Live alone or buy and prepare your food separately or agree to buy and prepare your food separately from the other people who live with you, and

Are not living with your spouse or own child who is under 22 years of age.

Downloadable form: The following standard form can be downloaded to a disk and then completed on the user's PC. To download a form, simply click on the desired title below, then follow the prompts given by your browser. (On most browsers, you will need to choose the "Save to Disk" option, and then choose the drive and directory you wish to save to.)

This form has been provided as a public service and has been successfully processed on a State computer system. However, we unfortunately cannot guarantee success for all users, due to the wide variety of browsers/platform in use. It is still the responsibility of the user to use this form appropriately and in a manner consistent within these limitations. No actual text of this form may be changed, and doing so may render it null and void. All relevant deadlines still apply.

What happens after we receive your enrollment form?

You will be assigned a worker.

Your worker will determine your eligibility.

We will send you a letter within 30 days of the date we receive your enrollment form to let you know if you are eligible or not. If you are eligible, the letter will also tell you the amount of your benefits and when they will begin.

Do you have to get assistance for food through LaCAP?

No, it is your choice. You can get food assistance through LaCAP or through the regular Food Stamp Program. If you receive benefits through LaCAP and you want to change to the regular Food Stamp Program, you can do so at any time. You may qualify for more benefits through the regular Food Stamp Program if you:

Pay more than $35 per month in out-of-pocket medical expenses, or

Pay more than $591 per month for shelter costs.

What Are My Rights?

Your have the right to:

Receive an application when you ask for it.

Turn in your application the same day you receive it.

Receive your food stamp benefits(or be notified that you are not eligible for the program) within 30 days after you turn in your application.

Receive food stamp benefits within 4 days if you are eligible and have little or no money.

Have a fair hearing if you disagree with any action taken on your case.

If you believe that you have been discriminated against by the Food Stamp Program because of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability or for religious or political beliefs, write immediately to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or request a Food Stamp Discrimination Form from your parish office.

How are My Benefits Issued?

Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) is a method of delivering governmental benefits to recipients electronically. Louisiana uses magnetic stripe card technology. The card, which is referred to as the Louisiana Purchase Card enables recipients to access benefits at Point-of-Sale (POS) machines.

Food Stamp benefits are posted to the recipients account during the first fourteen days of the month. Recipient benefits are accessible by 5:00 a.m. the morning after they are posted. Benefits are posted on the same date every month regardless of the day of the week. Holidays and weekends do not affect the date of benefit availability. In emergency situations, benefits are available immediately.

Benefits are secure and accessible only to persons authorized by the recipient. The Personal Identification Number (PIN) is selected by the recipient and must be correctly entered in order to successfully complete all electronic transactions. As purchases are made at grocery store checkout lanes, recipient accounts are debited and the recipient is given a receipt which provides the remaining account balance.